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After seeing some great work recently from Ricky Simpson, and Bob Kaschak, and many others i have seen before, and reading a very good article in Sign Builder Illustrated "Fun with foam"
I am ready and josin to do a project of my own (already have the layout) Anyways this is probably very simple question, but how long can a foam sign properly created and all the proper steps taken, will live up to its potential being a outdoor sign?
wondering what is the life span for such a sign?
-------------------- Frank Weidman Waukegan, Il. Posts: 71 | From: Waukegan, Il. | Registered: May 2002
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posted
It really isn't that simple of a question because there are so many materials that can be used. First off, what type of foam do plan to use? That makes a big difference in which direction you go from step one. Most people use urethane based foam for dimensional signs, but I use EPS foam. As for durability outdoors, that depends on what you coat it with. I use a two part polyurethane coating that hasn't really been around that long so nobody really knows how long it's going to last. The company that invented it expects it to last well over a hundred years before it starts to break down. Somehow, I don't see myself offering a hundred year warranty though. I don't want to be running around in 2102 re-coating signs. That might be a little rough on a 140 year old man.
Interesting question of which I am curious also. Looking forward to some responses from folks that have had signs outdoors for 4 or 5 years plus. My oldest sign has only been up for 2 years.
Here is my take on the subject......for "common HDU" such as PRECISION BOARD or SIGNFOAM in the 15# weight, I would say the longevity of the sign would, like JT said, be dependant upon the materials that one uses to finish the product. PRECISION BOARD I believe makes the claim that the material unfinished would last many years.....with it losing something like 1/16 of an inch of surface every few years unfinished due to the elements.
Naturally no one is going to use the product outside unfinished so how one finishes it will determine how long its useful life will be in my opinion.
Also vandalism and storms/weather would have to be considered because HDU is fairly easy to damage if one should decide to hit it hard with an object or if a bad hail storm should pass through.
-------------------- Ricky Simpson Simpson Signs South Central VA, USA "railroader aspiring to be fulltime SignArtist." Posts: 246 | From: VA | Registered: Jan 2000
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-------------------- Ricky Simpson Simpson Signs South Central VA, USA "railroader aspiring to be fulltime SignArtist." Posts: 246 | From: VA | Registered: Jan 2000
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I have some 15# urethane signs that have been up for over 6 years......Finished with exterior latex...They still look fine..some of them don't even need repainting..some that have southern exposure could use a repaint..... In fact the most of them look better than Redwood signs that I have done that are the same age. Shep'
-------------------- Arvil Shep' Shepherd Art by Shep' -------- " Those who dance are thought to be mad by those who cannot hear the music " Posts: 1281 | From: Mt Airy NC | Registered: Mar 2001
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and congrats on being recognized nationally on your awesome work. You creativeness is awesome!
-------------------- Ricky Simpson Simpson Signs South Central VA, USA "railroader aspiring to be fulltime SignArtist." Posts: 246 | From: VA | Registered: Jan 2000
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HALF of one of mine is lying behind the shop. It is about 5 years old and finished with acrlic latex paint and latex solid color stain. The paint is holding up fine and the stain is somewhat faded. It was run over by a bulldozer and where the sign is broken in half, the foam has turned dark but is still fresh underneath. Evidently the sun's rays do cause a thin external layer to break down but, from this observation I believe that HDU will last many years unfinished and many many more if kept painted.
-------------------- Wayne Webb Webb Signworks Chipley, FL 850.638.9329 wayne@webbsignworks.com Posts: 7405 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
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